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When Sony dropped the PlayStation VR2 (PSVR2), everyone thought it would be the next big thing in gaming. It promised a next-gen virtual reality experience for PlayStation 5 owners. But now, barely a year after its launch, it’s not doing as well as expected. The sales are low, developers aren’t that excited about it, and it just hasn’t clicked with the gaming community the way Sony hoped. So, what went wrong?
First up, the price. At US$549.99, the PSVR2 was more expensive than the PS5 itself. That’s a lot to drop, especially when you also need to buy VR-compatible games to make the most of it. On top of that, unlike the Meta Quest headsets, which don’t need any console to work, the PSVR2 requires a PlayStation 5. So, you’re not just paying for the headset, but also the console if you don’t have one already.
A game console or a VR headset, in this case needs to have awesome games to get people excited. The PSVR2 didn’t really deliver. While Horizon Call of the Mountain and Gran Turismo 7 VR were cool, they weren’t enough to convince a ton of people to spend big money. Compare that to the Meta Quest, which has a larger library of games and more variety.
Another problem? The PSVR2 needs to be connected to a PS5 to function. This means you're stuck with a cable, which isn't the most convenient arrangement. If you have ever used a wireless headset like the Meta Quest 2, you know how liberating it feels to just put on the headset and start. The PSVR2's wired connection seemed like a move in the wrong direction when other VR headsets were offering a smoother, cord-free experience.
The PSVR2 didn’t exactly come out with a bang. There wasn’t a ton of buzz before it dropped, and after the launch, Sony didn’t really push it hard. That’s a missed opportunity right there. Plus, developers didn’t seem too eager to create exclusive games for the PSVR2, since the user base was pretty small. Without enough games, especially from third-party developers, the headset didn’t have much to keep players coming back.
Another letdown was the PSVR2’s lack of PC compatibility at launch. Other VR headsets, like the Oculus, let you connect to a PC too, which makes them more versatile. But the PSVR2 was stuck in the PlayStation world. Sony later hinted that PC support would come, but by then, they might’ve already lost some momentum.
It’s not just Sony’s mistakes holding back the PSVR2—VR gaming as a whole is still pretty niche. While the technology is better than ever, it hasn’t really caught on with the mass market. A lot of gamers still prefer traditional gaming because VR can be uncomfortable, motion sickness is a real thing, and it takes up a lot of space. Plus, the library of must-play VR games just isn’t there yet.
With poor sales and waning interest, Sony has some decisions to make. They could lower the price to make it more accessible or work on getting better games to make the headset more appealing. Or, they might just back off from VR entirely. With new competition coming from Apple’s Vision Pro and Meta continuing to dominate the market, Sony will have to act fast if they want to stay relevant. For now, it’s unclear what the future holds for the PSVR2. But one thing’s for sure Sony’s big bet on VR gaming hasn’t paid off yet.
